Instructions
Your challenge is to write a descriptive paragraph about a powerful storm. However, you must be a word detective and find clever ways to describe the scene without using the forbidden words “rain” or “wind.” Use your senses and the tools below to paint a vivid picture for your reader.
Part 1: Sensory Brainstorm
Before you write, let's gather some ideas. Think about a storm and jot down what you might experience with your senses. Don't write full sentences, just words and phrases.
- SIGHT: (What do you see happening to the trees, the sky, the windows?)
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________________________________________________________________ - SOUND: (What noises does the storm make? Think beyond just thunder.)
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________________________________________________________________ - TOUCH / FEELING: (What might you feel on your skin or in the air? How does the house feel?)
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Part 2: The Word Emporium
Swap boring words for brilliant ones! Here are some powerful words to help you describe the storm's fury. You can use these!
Words for the Sky & Light:
- bruised
- menacing
- swollen
- slate-grey
- flicker
- flash
- illuminated
Words for the Sound:
- rumbled
- roared
- crashed
- boomed
- howled
- shrieked
- rattled
- hammered
Words for the Movement:
- swayed
- thrashed
- shuddered
- whipped
- trembled
- bent
- lashed
Words for the Water from the Sky:
- deluge
- torrent
- downpour
- cascaded
- pelted
- sheets
- drenched
Part 3: Figurative Language Fun
Bring your description to life with similes and metaphors. A simile compares two things using "like" or "as." A metaphor says something is something else.
Complete this Simile:
The sudden clap of thunder was as loud as _________________________________.
Metaphor Idea: Can you think of a metaphor for the flashing light in the sky?
Example: The sky was a photographer's flashbulb, going off again and again.
Your idea: ___________________________________________________________
Part 4: Write Your Description
Now, put it all together! Use your ideas from the sections above to write a paragraph describing the storm. Remember the two forbidden words!
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Answer Key
Since this is a creative writing exercise, there is no single correct answer. Use this section to check your work and see an example.
Self-Checklist
Read your paragraph and tick the boxes.
- [ ] I did not use the word “rain.”
- [ ] I did not use the word “wind.”
- [ ] I used at least three sensory details (sight, sound, touch/feeling).
- [ ] I used at least two powerful words from the Word Emporium.
- [ ] I tried to include a simile or a metaphor.
Example Paragraph
The world outside the window grew dark, the sky a bruised and menacing purple. A sudden, violent shudder went through the old house as a powerful force began to howl around its corners. Tree branches thrashed wildly, their leaves torn away by the invisible fury. A low rumble grew into a deafening crash that seemed to split the sky, and an instant later, a torrent of water cascaded down, hammering against the roof and turning the street into a river. The world was a blur of grey sheets and noise, a complete tumult that felt like it would never end.